Auction 75 - Rare and Important Items
In this Tena'im, dated 14th Shevat 1904, the date of the wedding is set for 17th Adar 1904. To the best of our knowledge, this Tena'im has never been printed.
Rebbe Avraham Weinberg (the third) of Slonim, author of Birkat Avraham (1888-1981), nephew and close disciple of the Divrei Shmuel of Slonim. He served as the close attendant of the Divrei Shmuel, and acted as his intermediary before prominent Torah leaders of all sects on communal issues and matters of Eretz Israel funds. He was a leader of the Ashkenazi Orthodox community in Tiberias, and assisted the rabbi of the city, R. Moshe Kliers in preserving the spiritual character of the city. In his youth, he travelled several times to Europe to frequent the courts of his teachers, the rebbes of Slonim, and at their behest, visited many of the foremost Polish and Lithuanian Torah leaders of the generation, both Chassidim and Mitnagdim. In 1955, he was appointed rebbe of Slonim and in 1960, he moved from Tiberias to Jerusalem. He was a member of Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Yisrael. He was renowned for his diligence in Torah study and his exceptional toil in his worship of G-d, for his humility and unpretentiousness, and especially for his fervent, tearful prayers. Many of his lectures related to the topic of persevering in one's worship of G-d even at times of reduced enthusiasm and drive. His lectures and letters were published in Birkat Avraham and Nachal Etan. His son-in-law was the Netivot Shalom, rebbe of Slonim.
[1] double leaf. 27 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks. Minor tear to folds, slightly affecting text.
Interesting historic letter, handwritten and signed by Rebbe Shalom Noach Berezovsky, author of Netivot Shalom. Addressed to his future brother-in-law, R. Zelig Weinberg. Baranovich (Baranavichy), Chanukah 1933.
The letter was written by the Netivot Shalom in Baranovich, during his engagement period, and is addressed to his future brother-in-law, R. Zelig Weinberg in Tiberias. In his letter, the Netivot Shalom discusses the dispute which arose over the position of his close friend, the young rebbe of Slonim, R. Shlomo David Yehoshua Weinberg ("The Young Rebbe"), following the passing of the Beit Avraham (see below).
To the best of our knowledge, this letter was never published.
At the beginning of the letter, the Netivot Shalom reports that the Chassidim were satisfied with the Chanukah candle lighting ceremonies of Rebbe Shlomo David Yehoshua, the new rebbe; that a date has not yet been set for the rebbe's wedding, and that they don't know yet how long Rebbe Shlomo David Yehoshua will live near his father-in-law in Alexander. Further in the letter, the Netivot Shalom praises the leaders of the Slonim community in Tiberias, who widely distributed the letter of R. Moshe Kliers Rabbi of Tiberias, in which he expresses his support for the appointment of R. Shlomo David Yehoshua as rebbe. The Netivot Shalom stresses that R. Moshe Kliers is highly regarded by the Chassidim in Europe. The letter then describes how the Chassidim's concerns that R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel ("Avreimel of Warsaw") would take over the leadership of Slonim Chassidut were in vain.
Rebbe Shalom Noach Berezovsky, author of Netivot Shalom (1911-2000), a leading rebbe in our times, head of the Chinuch HaAtzmai and Vaad HaYeshivot, member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Yisrael. He was a close disciple of the Beit Avraham, rebbe of Slonim, and of R. Moshe Minder; and was the son-in-law of the Birkat Avraham, rebbe of Slonim. He immigrated from Baranovich to Jerusalem in Adar 1935, and settled in Tiberias. In 1940, he moved to Tel Aviv, where he lectured in the Achei Temimim Chabad yeshiva. In 1942, he established the Beit Avraham – Slonim yeshiva in Jerusalem, which he headed for forty years. In 1981, he was appointed rebbe of Slonim. He was famous for his clear, well-organized teachings on Chassidut and current matters, and was renowned for his exceptional wisdom, his pure character traits and primarily as a master educator who made a personal impact on each of his disciples. His lectures on the tractates of Orders Nashim and Nezikin were published in the Netivot Shalom and Shiurei Netivot Shalom series. He is most widely recognized for the Netivot Shalom series, 7 parts, on Chassidic thought and worship of G-d – clear, easy to understand books which were distributed in hundreds of thousands of copies and quickly became Chassidic best-sellers.
[2] leaves. 19.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks.
The Dispute in the Slonim Chassidut, Following the Passing of the Beit Avraham
The two sons of the second rebbe of Slonim, R. Shmuel Weinberg (author of Divrei Shmuel, 1850-1916, see item 113), were R. Yissachar Leib (Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, II, pp. 466-467), and R. Avraham (the Beit Avraham, 1884-1933). After the passing of their father, both sons were appointed rebbe. The older son, R. Yissachar Leib, conducted his court in Slonim, while the younger son, the Beit Avraham, held his court first in Białystok, and later in Baranovich (Baranavichy). The vast majority of Chassidim followed the Beit Avraham. The brothers shared a close friendship, and sometimes even led the Tish together, side by side.
Rebbe Yissachar Leib passed away on 28th Nissan 1928, leaving behind a son, R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel (later rebbe of Slonim-Tel Aviv; 1898-1978, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, pp. 95-96). His brother, the Beit Avraham passed away suddenly, at the age of 49, on Rosh Chodesh Iyar 1933, leaving behind his only son R. Shlomo David Yehoshua (1913-1944). When R. Yissachar Leib passed away, his son refused to take his place as rebbe of Slonim, and only in 1933, after the passing of his uncle the Beit Avraham, did he agree to serve as rebbe. His followers did not suffice with this, and wished to "annex" the Baranovich court – the Chassidim of the Beit Avraham. However, most of the Chassidim of the Beit Avraham categorically refused to accept R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel as their rebbe, and wished the son of their teacher the Beit Avraham, R. Shlomo David Yehoshua, to succeed him. The latter, being only 20 years of age and unmarried, refused to succeed his father. Thus the Baranovich court was left torn and divided, without a unanimous candidate to lead the Chassidut.
The leaders of Slonim Chassidut in Eretz Israel – R. Moshe Kliers Rabbi of Tiberias, author of Torat HaAretz; R. Mordechai Chaim Slonim (R. Mottel) and the Birkat Avraham came to the rescue of the Slonim Chassidim in Baranovich with firm, decisive letters. In these letters, they command and entreat R. Shlomo David Yehoshua to take the leadership of the dynasty into his hands, despite his young age. Likewise, they sent letters to the Chassidim in Europe in which they publicized their opinion – that they accept only the young R. Shlomo David Yehoshua as rebbe. The Birkat Avraham (then a leader of the Slonim Chassidut in Tiberias) was sent to Baranovich, to try and organize the transfer of the leadership to R. Shlomo David Yehoshua and to settle the dispute.
On 12th Sivan 1933, R. Shlomo David Yehoshua was appointed rebbe of Slonim. On 9th Tammuz 1933, a match was arranged between him and Rebbetzin Sima, daughter of Rebbe Yitzchak Menachem Mendel Danziger – the Akedat Yitzchak of Alexander, and on 6th Adar 1934, the wedding was held. For two years, Rebbe Shlomo David Yehoshua lived in Alexander (Aleksandrów Łódzki), and he then returned to Baranovich, where he led his Chassidim until he was murdered by the Nazis (on 6th Cheshvan 1943 in the Koldichevo camp).
The present letter was written by the Netivot Shalom, close friend and study partner of Rebbe Shlomo David Yehoshua, during the time of his engagement with Rebbetzin Chava Miriam, daughter of the Birkat Avraham. The match was arranged by his prime teacher, the Beit Avraham, during his visit to Eretz Israel in winter 1933. The Netivot Shalom himself immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1935, and his wedding took place on 17th Adar 1935. This letter was written by the Netivot Shalom on Zot Chanukah 1933, in Baranovich.
(Sources: Nachalei Emunah, I, p. 21; 19, pp. 41-61; Otzar Erchei HaTorah – BeOhalei Yissachar, I, foreword, pp. 7-10; the present letter).
Sent to Netanya, to the building committee of Kiryat Sanz. The letter begins with blessings for the recovery of R. Yechezkel (presumably a member of the committee, since the rebbe blesses him that he should "return to his full strength speedily… that he should be able to continue engaging in the holy work…").
The letter continues with a recommendation for his disciple, R. Menashe Klein (author of Mishneh Halachot, rebbe and rabbi of the Ungvar community in the United States and Jerusalem): " …our disciple and friend, the prominent rabbi, R. Menashe Klein, is travelling to our Holy Land… it is fitting to draw him very close…". The rebbe explains that the purpose of R. Menashe's trip to Eretz Israel is to find himself a suitable wife (since his first marriage was not successful), and he asks the recipients to assist him: " …please try to find him a suitable wife, since he studies Torah diligently and has the potential to grow onwards and upwards… See that he gains recognition and respect, so that he should be successful in his search…".
R. Yekutiel Yehuda Halberstam (1905-1994), rebbe of Sanz-Klausenburg. A foremost Torah and Chassidic leader in our times. In his first marriage, he was the son-in-law of the Atzei Chaim, rebbe of Sighet. His first wife and all their children were murdered in the Holocaust. Rabbi Yekutiel Yehuda endured the worst possible sufferings at the hands of the Nazis, and later assisted in rebuilding Jewish and religious communal life in the DP camps in Germany. He then immigrated to the United States and rebuilt the Sanz Chassidic institutions – Batei Midrash, educational institutes and yeshivas. A decade later, he immigrated to Eretz Israel and established Kiryat Sanz in Netanya and in Jerusalem along with their numerous Torah and charity institutions. In his final years, he founded the Mifal HaShas, a global organization which encourages thousands of Torah scholars worldwide in their in-depth study of all Talmudic tractates. His teachings are recorded in Responsa Divrei Yatziv and Shefa Chaim.
Aerogram. Approx. 33 autograph lines. 30 cm. Good condition. Stains and folding marks.